Opening of the Exhibition “15 Miracles of Buddha Shakyamuni”
On February 24, on the day of the Tsagan Sar celebration, the exhibition “15 Miracles of Buddha Shakyamuni” was opened at the Central Khurul of Kalmykia “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni.” The exhibition was prepared jointly with the N. N. Palmov National Museum of the Republic of Kalmykia. The exhibition tells about the deeds of Buddha Shakyamuni during the first fifteen days of the white month of Tsagan Sar.
During the first 15 days of Tsagan Sar according to the lunar calendar, solemn Monlam Chenmo prayer services are held in all Buddhist temples. They are dedicated to the 15 great miracles performed by Buddha Shakyamuni in the Indian city of Shravasti during a debate with the preachers of six false teachings.
Once, the Buddha and his disciples were invited to the king's court in Rajagriha and seated at the table. Although the king's six advisers were already sitting at this table in the places of honor, the moment the Buddha and his disciples came near them, these false teachers suddenly found themselves at the far end of the table. Three times they moved back to their places of honor, and three times they were again carried off to the very end. When pitchers of water were offered to them, the water refused to flow from them, but of its own accord poured onto the hands of the Buddha and his disciples. The same happened with the food that was offered, and when the ruler asked the Buddha for instruction in the Teaching, the Victorious One suggested that he first ask his learned advisers about it. But the false teachers could not open their mouths and only indicated with gestures to the ruler that he should ask the Buddha.
After this, the Buddha bestowed the Teaching that liberates from suffering, and all those present attained various spiritual fruits — some entered the monastic community and purified themselves inwardly, others gave rise to thoughts of spiritual awakening. In doing so, each understood whose teaching was true and ceased to believe in the six false teachers, to honor them, and to make offerings to them.
The exhibition also presented fifteen thangkas that introduce the life and work of the great teacher Lama Tsongkhapa (Zunkva Gegyan). The thangkas were presented as a gift to the Central Khurul of Kalmykia by the administration of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
